West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-12-15
sss boundary Question.

EDITOR REPUBLICAN--D Dear Sir:
In your last weeks issue there was
an article from the Cumberlund Tim s
correspondent. whish indicates a sur.
prising view of the Boundary ques
ton on our Western border, and a
view that will not be shared by very
many Of the fairmiaded citizens of
Garrett county.
After citing certain acts relative to
the boundary question, the corre-
spondent whose article you copy,
goes on TO say: But Vest Virginia
took no notice OF the matter until
last May, when her Legislature pas
sed an act. which in substance, pro-
vides that West Virginia will nc.
knowledge the new line IL Maryland
will concede the validity of tho Vir.
GINA titles to the land between the
two lines, and thereby throw her own
citizens out Of their homes. and rob
them of their property, which they
have paid for in the sweat of their
brow"
Now this is certainly q remark able
declaration, and. lift means anything,
1t seems to say that the acquisition
OF this strip Of territory, with it's
farms and land, and property and
citizens. will rob the citizens of Gar
rett county of their homes. II this
must be the effect Of our acquisition,
perhaps we could persuade West Vir.
ginia to keep it, as nobody wants to
see the citizens OF Garrett county
robbed.
Or what robbery would it be to let
the owners of this property under
Virginia titles, come into our county
and pay their taxes here, and become
a part of US. We certainly cannot
contemplate the conilscation of this
property because it was acquired uu.
der Virginia patents.
Let us examine the facts.
About one hundred years ago the
State of Maryland sent out q survey.
or Frank M. Dtakins. who run and
located the old line from Fairfax
Stone to the Pennsylvania line, All
the lands on the East of this line
were awarded the old soldiers of tho
Maryland line, or were entered as
vacant land belonging to the State of
Maryland; while the lands Westward
of the line were under warrants from
the State of Virginia. These lands
have been held in undispnted posses.
sion for hundred years. Now, after
the lspse of all this time, it is pro
posed TO run new line, which varies
Southwest from the Old line, and
gives Maryland a strip of territory
which formerly belonged to Virginia
The owners of these lands came by
them honestly, as rule, and paid for
them Gin the sweat Of their brows &"
aod here by implication at least. the
monstrous proposition is announced
to rob these people of their property
and to bestow it IN whoever may be
the most successful land grabbers OF
Garrett county.
The correspondent says the correct
line was always due North line from
the Fairfax Stone, but it has been al.
ways declared by high legal authority
that the old line is the only leqal line
until the new line shall have been
ratified by the Legislatures of Mary.
land and West Virginia, and also
by the Congress of the United state
Maryland as yet can make no title
to this land beoasso she has no title
herself.
The humane, honorable, and Jus,
way TO treat the citizens coming into
our county. would be to welcome
them as friends anil helpers, and not
70 con6scste their property and drive
them away and confer it on those
who did not get 10 by the sweat Of
their brow.
At the close Of the French and
Russian war the Germans did not
conhscste the property Of the con
quered provinces and drive the people
away, but the people simply changed
their allegiance from France aad be.
came citizens Of the German Empire.
Bot this Is not q conqueat, It involves
simply The correction c,f a linz -